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20 Substance flow analysis of the recycling of small WEEE 1. Introduction and objectives of the work Due to the leverage of huge unit sales, the manufacturing of electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) is a major global demand sector for precious and special metals, with a strong further growth potential. Both precious and special metals are contained in complex components with only small concentrations per unit. After the use-phase, the waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) is an important source of these “trace metals”. The recovery requires appropriate processes in order to cope with the hazardous substances contained in WEEE and to recover the resources efficiently. In the European Union, the operational decisions regarding management of WEEE are mainly driven by maximizing the recovery of mass relevant material outputs like copper, ferrous metals, plastics and aluminium in order to achieve the recovery rates specified in the legislation. Improving the recovery of trace metals is currently a challenge both for policymakers and for the operators of collection and treatment facilities, who need to design and implement adequate infrastructures. The goal of this thesis is to describe and quantify the flows of small waste electrical and electronic equipment (sWEEE) and in particular the flows of gold and palladium contained in this sWEEE. The term ‘sWEEE’ covers small household appliances, IT and telecommunication equipment, consumer electronics, tools and toys generated by households or similar to sWEEE generated by households. The material and substance flows are considered in the whole recycling chain (from the generation of sWEEE by the last user up to the exit of the end-of-life phase). As an example, the flows in Germany and in the USA in 2007 are investigated, so that the losses of precious metals are quantified and recommendations for more efficient recovery can be formulated. To achieve this goal, the following objectives were defined: 1. Qualitative description of the system ‘management of sWEEE’, 2. Quantification of the material flows in the system based on a review of the relevant literature, as well as identification of data gaps, 3. Quantification of the concentration of precious metals in sWEEE based on a combination of experimental investigations conducted at Technische Universität Berlin and data in the literature, 4. Quantification of the transfer coefficients of the treatment processes applied in 2007 regarding the recovery of precious metals, 5. Determination of the flows of gold and palladium in the investigated system (from generation up to refining of precious metals), by conducting a substance flow analysis,
1. Introduction and objectives of the work 21 6. Identification of relevant indicators to describe the performance of the management system and quantification of the losses of precious metals, 7. Based on the results of the substance flow analysis, formulation of recommendations to improve the recovery of precious metals from sWEEE. In chapter 2, background information on the life-cycle of EEE, on management of WEEE and on precious metals in WEEE is presented. The objectives of WEEE management and the legislation relative to this waste are described, as well as the relevance of precious metals from an economic and environmental point of view. The method ‘Substance Flow Analysis’ (SFA) used to track the flows of precious metals in the sWEEE management systems of Germany and the USA is described. The boundaries of the investigation in terms of processes, time, location and tracked materials are presented in chapter 3. Chapter 3 also addresses the methods used to gather the data necessary to conduct the SFA and to deal with uncertainties. Chapter 4 and 5 present the results of the SFA. First, the flows of generated, collected, reused and treated sWEEE, and the concentration of precious metals in sWEEE are quantified (chapter 4). The results are then aggregated in chapter 5 to depict the flows of precious metals associated with six groups of waste equipment, as well as the total flows of precious metals contained in sWEEE. The results of chapter 5 are assessed in chapter 6. The origin of the losses of precious metals are identified and discussed. The results of the SFA are compared with other research results from other countries. The changes of the material flows expected in the future are presented. Chapter 7 suggests measures for a more efficient recovery of precious metals. For the longterm implementation of SFA as a monitoring tool, some recommendations concerning the collection of data related to the material flows are formulated. The strengths and the weaknesses of the methodology to assess waste management systems are addressed.
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Page 4 and 5: Bibliografische Information Der Deu
Page 7 and 8: Acknowledgements Here I would like
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4. Data inventory 81 Due to the lim
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4. Data inventory 83 apparent gold.
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7. Recommendations 109 7. Recommend
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7. Recommendations 111 WEEE contai
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7. Recommendations 113 After collec
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7. Recommendations 115 in the case
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7. Recommendations 117 In many case
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7. Recommendations 119 manufacturer
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7. Recommendations 121 the manufact
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7. Recommendations 123 Reuter et al
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8. Conclusion 125 All the equipment
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References 127 Binder 2007 BITKOM 2
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References 129 CIWMB 2004b Clift &
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References 131 Greenpeace 2005 Gree
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References 133 Janz & Bilitewski 20
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References 135 Melissen 2006 Mesker
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References 137 Rhein et al. 2008 Rh
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References 139 StEP 2009 Stevels 20
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References 141 Veldhuizen & Sippel
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References 143 Legislative texts Ba
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Appendices 145 Appendix 1 Equipment
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Appendices 147 Appendix 2 Average c
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Appendices 149 Appendix 4 Past and
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Appendices 151 Eq. group Equipment
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Appendices 153 2 Assumptions based
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Appendices 159 Appendix 8 Flows of
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Appendices 161 Appendix 10 Flows of
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